Members have an opportunity to accrue retirement service credit if their employers cover them with a benefit protection contract through URS. URS is no longer accepting requests to establish new short-term disability benefit protection contracts.
Benefit Protection Contract – A contract between URS and a participating employer. An approved contract allows service credit to accrue during the period eligible members receive STD benefits.
With benefit protection members accrue retirement service credit during the time they receive STD benefits until they are either terminated from STD or they apply for a monthly URS retirement benefit, if they qualify.
Employees who have exempted from retirement coverage are not eligible to accrue service credit under a benefit protection contract.
According to the contract, employers agree to pay the required retirement contributions necessary to maintain active status for these members. There is no coverage before the effective date of the contract.
URS is no longer accepting requests to establish new short-term disability benefit protection contracts. Please contact the Employer Services Department with questions at 801-366-7318 or 800-753-7318.
To report contributions only, and to avoid paying interest charges, employers should remit contributions during the time the member is on short-term disability as part of the regular Contribution Report.
If contributions are paid after the member returns to employment, a contribution adjustment, including interest, is figured by the Retirement Office and billed to the employer.
In any case, contributions must be based on the salary rate at the time of the disability.
Public Employees Noncontributory and Contributory Retirement Systems
Members who cease working and start STD benefits remain eligible for retirement coverage, if they meet the following requirements:
» They are paid sick leave or annual leave equal to 20 or more hours per week, and they continue to receive benefits normally provided, as approved by the Retirement Board; or
» They are paid sick or annual leave equal to teaching half time or more and they continue to receive benefits normally provided as approved by the Retirement Board; or
» They are classified school district employees, hired before July 1, 2013, paid sick or annual leave equal to 20 hours per week, regardless of other benefits; or
» They are classified school district employees hired after July 1, 2013, paid sick or annual leave equal to 20 hours per week.
Members who cease working and start short-term disability benefits remain eligible for retirement coverage if they are paid sick leave or annual leave equal to 40 hours per week.
Members, who receive leave pay equal to less than 40 hours, but at least 20 hours per week, remain in the Public Safety or Firefighters Retirement System; however, their service is prorated.
Members not receiving leave pay equal to 20 hours per week or equal to teaching half time, must be removed from coverage. Employers are required to complete a Leave Notification (Form MELV-1) at the point a member’s leave pay begins to represent hours under the minimum for eligibility in a URS retirement system.
Contact our Retirement Benefits Department at 801-366-7770 or 800-695-4877 for information on how your retirement account may be affected if you receive STD benefits.
1. Provide the following information for our Retirement Benefits Department to calculate the cost of adjusting service credit for the STD period:
a. the member’s name and Social Security number,
b. the member’s salary rate at the time of the disability,
c. the normal number of hours worked per week, and
d. the date short-term disability benefits began and ended.
2. All systems: Once sick or annual leave payments begin to represent hours under the minimum required for eligibility in a URS retirement system, you must complete a Leave Notification (Form MELV-1).
3. All systems: Once sick or annual leave payments begin to represent hours under 20 hours per week, remove the member from your contribution report.